Community Voice article on the meeting between Local Election candidates and Tyrrelstown residents

Iggy along with other Local Election candidates attending a meeting organised by the "Tyrrelstown Residents Association" on Thursday 14th May. Here is a "Community Voice" report on the meeting.

http://www.communityvoice.ie/pages/CV137/CV137n03.htm

Tyrrelstown residents unite for schools

One of the biggest public meetings in the area in recent times attracted a large crowd to the Park Plaza Hotel. Representatives of all political parties and candidates for the local election were in attendance (with the exception of Fianna Fáil) to hear members of the Tyrrelstown community express their frustration at the delay in providing much needed facilities in their area.

Addressing the meeting Adam Fitzsimons, chairperson of the Tyrrelstown Residents Association, pointed out that it was just over a year ago that a report was commissioned on the needs of the Tyrrelstown community. “Some of the issues raised in this report have been sorted but the three biggest needs have not yet been addressed. These were the provision of school sites, lack of community facilities and the provision of green space,” he said.

According to Adam, “the report also indicated that in the 2006 census 15% of the population of Tyrrelstown was under the age of 4. We have a birth rate of 18 - 20 children a month in the area so that means that since the last census there are 600 more children under the age of 3 in the area. This is now starting to impact on the schools.”

Maurice Hurley, principal of Tyrrelstown Educate Together national school which operates out of temporary buildings on the Powerstown Road confirmed that sites for the schools have now been acquired. “The project is back on track but pressure needs to be maintained.” Thanking residents for their support he said “what’s good for the community is good for the school and vice versa. We are all in this together. Go and vote in the elections. If a community votes it will be listened to - not just this year but in the future also.”

Representing the views of Mulhuddart National School which is also in a temporary building on the adjoining site, Fr. Eugene Taaffe still has doubts about politicians’ promises. “I would love to throw up my arms and say it’s done,” he said “but I‘ve been here before when promises were made and not kept. We should all vote but we deserve our vote to be respected. Your children deserve not just the basics but the best.”

The transfer of the site to Fingal County Council was also confirmed by Rick Larkin, a director of Twinlite Developments. “My company has been developing Tyrrelstown since 2001 and we have been actively trying to build a school because a school is good for business. People will want to live here and that is good for our business,” he said.

However he went on to castigate the Department of Education who, he said “are the worst people I have ever tried to work with. Fingal County Council say that they can deliver the school so we have given them an unconditional contract for €1 for the school site. The county council have told us that when they hand over the site to the Department of Education they will get money for a community centre on the site. However I agree with Fr. Eugene that the community should be consulted,” he said.

Confirming the acquisition on behalf of the county council, Cllr. Michael O’Donovan in his capacity as Mayor of Fingal said “while there is no doubt that the school site is available, as of today no application has yet been made by the department for planning permission for the schools. However when the application does come in, it will get red carpet fast track assistance.”

By coincidence, on the day after the meeting took place a letter was received by Joan Burton TD in reply to representations she had made to the Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe about the Tyrrelstown schools. In his reply the Minister said “the further progression of the site acquisition and the proposed building project will be considered having regard to the competing demands in the context of the capital budget available to my Department for school buildings generally.”

Responding to this latest twist Cllr. O’Donovan said, “it seems to me that the Minister is saying ‘I have a certain amount of money for next year and Tyrrelstown can take its place in the queue along with everyone else.’ I wonder if that reply has been sent to many more schools in this pre-election time. It makes Brian Lenihan’s assertion that the money has been ring-fenced seem a little hollow.”

However when contacted by Community Voice, Minister Lenihan was insistent that the school would be built on time. Referring to the content of Batt O’Keeffe’s letter he said “this is just a standard Department of Education form of words that they use to reply to all such representations. I can assure everyone that this money is available and that it will be there when required to build the school.

These schools are going ahead and I am adamant that they will open for pupils in September 2010.”

"Community Voice" article on the Passports for votes issue

From the "Community Voice" newspaper:

http://www.communityvoice.ie/pages/CV137/CV137n02.htm

Fine Gael accused of ‘hypocrisy’ on immigration policy
by Martin Ryan

Fine Gael policy with regard to ethnic communities locally has recently come under the spotlight on two fronts. At a ‘meet the candidates’ public meeting for the new Irish communities in the Mulhuddart ward, Cllr. Ruth Coppinger accused Fine Gael of “hypocrisy” in relation to integration and education policy. She referred to the support of Deputy Leo Varadkar of the requirement for baptismal certificates for entry to Catholic run schools and said that the party’s policy on the matter amounted to educational apartheid.

Speaking to Community Voice after the meeting the councillor also questioned why there was no Labour representative at the meeting and why a Fianna Fáil representative attended only as the meeting was drawing to a close. The event was held in Tyrrelstown Educate Together primary school by a group called the New Communities Partnership, an organisation which describes itself as “empowering and representing ethnic minorities”. The event was designed to make the immigrant community cognisant of the issues and views of the Mulhuddart ward candidates and to advise on issues such as voter registration.

Meanwhile Tyrrelstown based Independent candidate Ignatius Okafor has criticised Fine Gael for raising what he describes as an ugly issue relating to “spurious promises” being made in order to garner votes in the upcoming election. The allegation relates to comments Mr. Okafor claims were made by Fine Gael election candidate Adeola Ogunsina at a public meeting in Blanchardstown earlier this month.

According to Okafor, Adeola Ogunsina suggested to a group of over 100 African immigrants that if they voted for him they would have a favourable chance of getting passports within six months. Mr. Okafor said that he challenged the claim at the meeting but “was derided by Fine Gael for not knowing what I was talking about when it came to Irish politics.”

He further claimed that he was approached by many people present who he said were surprised that he raised the matter as “they told me that they and friends had been made this promise on many occasions by Adeola Ogunsina and the local Fine Gael TD Leo Varadkar.” He said that initially he thought Ogunsina might have misspoken on this occasion, but he said it was made clear to him by the people at the meeting that this was already known in the immigrant community.

He said that “such false promises undermine the integration of our society” and can lead to many new immigrants becoming disillusioned with Irish society, further alienating them from participating fully in our communities. “After all elected representatives both at local and national level are supposed to provide an example to others on whose behalf they act,” he added.

Okafor said he has been reluctant to raise the issue of immigrant status during his campaign as he believed it to be an issue of national policy rather than something that should be raised at local level. “But to raise it in the misleading manner Fine Gael are doing at present is worrying and it is even more serious that the target audience being courted by this Fine Gael policy is among the most vulnerable in Irish society” he said.

He called on the Fine Gael leadership to clarify the party’s position and say if this is official Fine Gael policy and if so why it has not appeared in any of their policy documents or manifestos.

“If it is not official Fine Gael policy then why are they allowing their candidates to make these spurious claims publicly,” he asked.

Fianna Fáil candidate Idowu Olafimihan has joined in the criticism of Fine Gael referring back to proposals by Leo Varadkar that immigrants might be given a financial incentive to repatriate. Olafimihan said that this would leave economic migrants from non-EU countries as the whipping boys of the Fine Gael proposal, and suggested that this can be broken down further between economic migrants for the first and third worlds.

“There are numbers of US and other first world citizens living and working in Ireland which I assume are not the target of the Fine Gael proposal given Ireland’s continuous attempts to persuade the USA to ‘normalise’ the status of the undocumented Irish in America” he said.

“Thus this Fine Gael proposal is limited to those economic migrants from third world countries of origin. Negative proposals such as Deputy Varadkar’s are not only worthless but they generate a climate of exclusion, they construct an “us and them” atmosphere that is an enemy of integration and an enemy to the community” he added.

He referred to the reported comments of Adeola Ogunsina as an “empty promise” and asked if the Fine Gael candidate would explain how he would achieve this since it is not within the powers of a local councillor. He also questioned how the promise of passports could stand alongside Leo Varadkar’s comments on repatriation incentives.

“The best way to deal with the Fine Gael proposals is to cast your vote for those willing to oppose it. Let us show him that we cannot be deceived by frivolous and empty promises,” he added.

When contacted by Community Voice, both Adeola Ogunsina and Fine Gael headquarters refused to comment on the matter.

Meeting with Ongar Residents Tuesday May 26th

Iggy along with other Dublin 15 Local election candidates will be attending a meeting with Ongar Community Council members on Tuesday May 26th in the "Educate Together" school in Ongar green @ 8pm.

Campaign Posters

As you have no doubt noticed every available lamppost in the area seems to have been covered in Campaign Posters by all the candidates for the forthcoming local election. Iggy has been no exception in this. The posters were put up over 2 weeks ago, by Iggy and his team of volunteers over a period of four days. Many thanks to these unpaid and unsung heroes for their time and effort.

Hollystown Campaigning Sunday 17th May

By John Carroll

We visited Hollystown on Sunday [17TH May] afternoon last, as part of our ongoing door to door campaign and despite the continual downpour of rain, without exception we were welcomed by residents, who while being genuinely appreciative and polite in the reception they gave Iggy and his team, where none the less forthcoming in their viewpoints and concerns with regards the issues affecting both their community and that of the wider Blanchardstown/Mulhuddart community.

Issue they raised ranged from;
• Rathoath Rd Traffic volumes and speeds
• Lack of adequate Traffic calming measures
• Lack of Public Transport services
• Lack of safe pedestrian & cycle pathways
• Concern with aspects of proposed developments both locally and in relation to Snowtopia
• Youth initiatives or a lack thereof to a localised youth centre/facilities

Most of the above issues it would seem, regardless of where the community is situated are common priorities for families and their community.

One of the most telling moments for Iggy, came unsolicited from a very unexpected quarter; at one of the houses visited, the father told us that his son (approx 12yrs old) was a fan of Iggy who he’d heard and read about, thanking the father for his attentiveness and interest in our campaign we moved on however, as Iggy was walking across the road this young boy came running out of his house and went straight to Iggy and gave him a hug and said, ‘I can’t vote but I told my mam and dad that should vote for you’, he’d heard of Iggy from some of his friends and read about him, it was the spontaneity and sincerity which really knocked Iggy for six. ‘It’s one thing to have adults express support and goodwill for my campaign but something else altogether for a young person to come up to me like that, I am so moved’ said Iggy genuinely moved by the encounter.
This wasn’t the first time this happened however, because last week in Clonee when we knocked at a door, a mother and son opened the door and no sooner had Iggy introduced himself that the boy said, ‘mam that’s him, you give him your vote’, the mother and Iggy were as perplexed as each other and all she said was, ‘if he says he likes you that’s good enough for me, you have four votes here’. We had this type of reaction to Iggy in Tyrrelstown which we attributed to him being active in his community with the youth but we then encountered the same response in Mulhuddart/Ladyswell.

Another encounter in Hollystown really affected Iggy as well, a young girl [10yrs old] was so affected by a cyclist who had been hit by a car that she took it upon herself to draft a policy proposal inclusive of research material and statistics as well as projected environmental commentaries in relation to cycle and pedestrian infrastructure. This little girl won recognition and an award from Meath County Council yet was ignored within Fingal/Blanchardstown and no local paper even mentioned this. Iggy has promised to raise this within his campaign as he is of no doubt that young people like this should be encouraged and acknowledged by the community at every opportunity, these after all are positive role models for both young and adults to contribute positively and constructively to the community.

The impact Iggy seems to be generating with the young is a telling factor wherever we go and is probably the most surprising [and refreshing] feature to how his campaign has unfolded.

Public Consultation Meeting between Iggy and Constituents and Finian McGrath TD at the Paddocks

Last night Tuesday 12th May, in the Paddocks in Clonee, Iggys campaign got a huge boost in both morale and practical advice from one of Irelands most experienced and affective Independent public representatives in recent times namely Mr. Finian McGrath TD.

The public meeting was organized by Iggy and his team and invitations were sent to both residents and prospective candidates of Mulhuddart/Clonee.

Iggy gave a brief outline of how he had come to seek to be elected to Fingal County Council; ‘having arrived in Tyrrelstown (TT) some years before I involved myself in a local initiative to establish a soccer team and this was the catalyst to me seeing first hand the deficit in basic and fundemental local amenities and infrastructure, which brought me into contact with others who were endeavouring to fill the gap, such as the Tyrrelstown Residents Association and which indirectly led to me becoming more and more involved with initiatives to provide constructive outlets for the youth of TT, as well as community based initiatives such as Business Watch/Garda Forum and so on and it was as a consequence of my involvement locally that I was encouraged to consider standing in the then upcoming local elections, this I ultimately did and so far I have only encountered goodwill and support from the wider Mulhuddart Community, visiting so far almost 8000 homes throughout the electoral ward. I chose what many have told me is the most difficult way of seeking election by standing as an Independent but I answer that I believe I must put my constituents uppermost in my considerations and Party Politics does not allow for this in reality’.

Finian then introduced himself recounting; ‘I began my involvement in politics at local level almost 30yrs ago while teaching in Dublin’s inner city and I had the privilege to work with a man named Tony Gregory, who like me saw that there was a need for communities to have their voice heard at local and national government and that this could be done more affectively by way of dedicated community based and supported Independent Candidates, who would be in a position to put constituents priorities uppermost and not be swayed by Party Policy/Allegiance. The key to being successful as an Independent is maintaining the trust and support of the local community and community groups. If enough Independent representatives are elected they in themselves can and have in the recent past, hold the balance of power at both local and national government, so any one who derides the effectiveness of an Independent need only look at the record of Tony Gregory or myself and see the truth of what an Independent voice can achieve. This viewpoint is reinforced by the fact that there were 92 Independent local councilors in the outgoing councils throughout Ireland.’'

It was worth noting that both have entered the ‘public’ arena by a very similar route and see similar strengths in being Independent.

The meeting was well attended by residents who came to with open minds and a willingness to engage with both Iggy and Finian; the meeting started at 19.45 and finished at 21.30 with a very lively question and answer session where everyone was allowed voice an opinion and this was evidenced by the questions they sought answers to, the following are just a sample of some of the many questions/queries contributed on the night;

Resident: What plans do you (Iggy) have to tackle the deficit in class places?
Iggy: Whether elected or not it is my intention to continue my efforts to have the funding released by Fingal County Council (FCC) so as adequate provision of schools are built and thereby class places are provided. Money I might add which according to my enquiries is there but not being used for some unknown reason.
Finian: I would like to add that in my capacity as TD, I am only too willing to assist Iggy getting answers on this issue and I commit to raising this and other issues Iggy may have at Dail level.

Resident: You (Iggy) mention in your leaflet Affordable Child Care Support, what does that mean?
Iggy: At present many of the newer communities in Mulhuddart have little or no local resource/community centers and it would be my intention to prioritize the establishing of these as has been done in other Mulhuddart communities such as Blakestown/Fortlawn/Mulhuddart and so on and as part of these centers there would be provision for crèche/day care for pre-school with qualified staff which would be of great support to families and parents whether they are working or upskilling themselves through reeducation.

Resident: What is your (Iggy) intention to deal with anti-social behavior?
Iggy: I emphasize in my policy leaflets Community Facilities and Extended Garda Services and it is my opinion that early intervention and prevention programmes are vital for any hope of diverting in particular young people away from anti-social tendencies but that this is not achievable if we as a community do not have either the facilities or activities to attract young people to in the first place and added to this we need the ongoing and committed involvement of the Local Gardai as well as maintaining and improving the visibility of Gardai to act as a deterrent and also as importantly as a reassurance to residents.
Finian: I would back up everything Iggy has said as being needed to tackle anti-social behavior but would add that this is an issue which affects all our communities both new and well established and will tell you that if we can achieve what I saw in London where Police who are rostered for 8 hour shifts are on the ground in the community for 6 out of the 8 hours then I believe that this would go a long way to curtailing anti-social behavior and crime itself within our communities.
Iggy: I take on board what Finian has said and I intend to take this issue which is in essence a Garda Management one to the Garda Forum of which I am a member I would like to add that Local business’ can and have a role to play on this issue and it is for them to involve their business’ in initiatives like Business Watch which can and do play and effective role in anti-social issues in their communities after all it is in their commercial interest to have a safe environment for their customers.

Resident: While we are talking about Gardai can I ask (Iggy & Finian) why is there such a delay in Garda response to calls I and others have made? Sometimes up to 3 or 4 hours? Iggy: There should not be such a delay and if you wish I can enquire as to why this was so if you provide me with the details. At many Garda meetings and forums I and others have been consistently reassured that such delays are not acceptable to Garda Management either and they have in all fairness when given details of such occurrences made contact with the residents concerned and where required carry out follow up enquiries most times to the satisfaction of the residents concerned.
Finian: Again I would agree with Iggy and would also commit that if this is an ongoing failing within your community I will take this issue up with the Minister for Justice on your behalf.

Resident: There was an article recently (Metro Eireann) in which it was cited that you (Iggy) had contradicted the Fine Gael Candidates claims that he (FG) would get passports for those immigrants who voted for him, is that what he said and if so what are your (Iggy & Finian) views on this?
Iggy: I stand by what I said in that article as I was at an event to hear him (FG Candidate Adeola Ogunsina) say it and I go further in saying that it is a low form of false political promises which preys on a vulnerable section of our community by raising false expectations and I not only raised this in the media but also wrote to Fine Gael headquarters by way of Mr. Enda Kenny seeking an explanation. I am still awaiting a reply. He (FG Candidate Adeola Ogunsina) also I might add confirmed my assertion of the event and what he had said to the editor of Metro Eireann when queried on my claims.
Finian: To be honest this is the first time I have heard of this and I haven’t as yet read the article, I can however point out that there is a process that all must follow to attain citizenship and this is not at the discretion of any individual or elected representative to circumvent.

The night was brought to a close by Iggy who thanked all and by a very warm and sincere applause by all for Mr. Finian McGrath taking the time to attend and his willingness to be so forthcoming in his answers and support for the concerns raised and it is of note that before the meeting closed Finian wished to draw alls attention to a particular part of Iggys policy leaflet going so far as to quote directly from the leaflet;
“My vision is a system that meets the peoples aspirations, needs and yearnings…yet going further to reward societal trust and endeavor. My mission is to pursue and insist on people-centered policies and actions in this visibly multicultural and integrating Mulhuddart Constituency”. This I (Finian) believe should be our National Policy Vision for Ireland.

This heartfelt and sincere statement by Finian received an enthusiastic applause from those present and was a fitting tribute to Iggy and his team and finished the meeting on a very positive and invigorating note.

Ignatius Okafors Official Registration as an Independant Candidate in the forthcoming local elections

By John Carroll

On Saturday the 9th last; the quiet of Fingal County Council offices in Swords was broken by the exited chatter and laughter of a number of children, who had accompanied their parents, who themselves had come to Swords to be assenters for Iggy.

This was described by the registration staff as something unique, which many hadn't witnessed before, not the kids but rather that it was very unusual for all (15 plus) assenters to turn up in person for the nomination process.

One staff member said that he'd been involved with the nomination process for over 12yrs and he'd not seen the type of turn out like this before.

After some hastily gathered forms and the subsequent filling out of same Iggy and his supporters were treated to a guided tour of the Council Chambers by a very friendly and informative staff member. It must be said that all the staff went out of their way to not only deal with the nomination process, but equally to put everyone at ease.

The only hiccup was when the registration staff were trying to decide whether the word/name Iggy appeared with or without brackets () on the Ballot Papers....you'll have to wait 'till voting day to find out what they decided!!

Meanwhile there where many photos taken to remember the day...

To para quote: One Small Step for Iggy...One Giant Leap for New Irish